Sealing unit



P. F. DONLEY May 5, 1964 SEALING UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 21, 1960 A IN1/mma DH1/.lp E Da/LEY United States Patent Oce 3,131,941 Fatented May 5, 1964 3,131,94 SEALING UNII Philip F. Boniey, Shatter Heights, hio, assigner to Doniey Products, Inc., Cieveiand, Ohio, a corporation of Ghio Fiied Nov. 21, 195%, Ser. No. 73,797 12 Ciaims. 61. 277-42) The invention, which relates to sealing units for shafts, bearings and the like, has to do mainly with sealing units of the types described in United States Patents 2,776,851 and 2,941,825 to August H.' Heinrich.

In industry, sealing units of conventional types, not including those of the above-mentioned patents, long have been among the most vulnerable components of the machines in which they are used; e.g., motors, generators, turbines, mixers, pumps and a wide variety of machines of other types. Even Where there is no particular temperature or pressure dilferential as between conditions obtaining on opposite sides of the sealing unit, inside and outside, sealing units of conventional kinds often have short life expectancies. This is usually due to the fact that certain of the materials of which such sealing units are made, wholly or in part, stand up poorly, as evidenced by the recurring necessity for replacing sealing rings, diaphragrns, gaskets, washers, springs and like elements.

The organic materials often used in certain of these elements are sometimes deleteriously aected by lubricating oil, which is often present in machines of kinds in which sealing units are employed. Frequently, these and kindred materials age poorly, especially under conditions in which they are subjected to superatmospheric temperatures or to wide variations in temperature. Others, including some metals, become eroded or abraded when they come into contact with solid particles, whether present from the outset, introduced in the form of contaminants in oils, greases and the like, or formed under the conditions under which the machine as a whole is operated. VStill others become fatigued with use. Under conditions characteristic of many industrial installations, therefore, the life of a sealing unit of the conventional type tends to be short.

If the machine of which the sealing unit forms part is used for moving a uid at a temperature well above atmospheric temperatures, as in handling steam piped from one place to another for use in prime movers, for heating or for processing, conditions unfavorable to the operation of conventional sealing units are likely to be present. In the handling of distillates in the vapor phase, as in an oil refinery, the problem is accentuated. Elsewhere in the process industries, as where acids, alkalies, detergents, slurries, etc. must be conducted to or from a given piece of equipment, conditions are even worse, this for the reason that substances of these types tend to attack many and perhaps most of the materials used in conventional sealing units. Thus the need for improved sealing units, particularly corrosion-resistant sealing units, is very great.

This invention has as one of its principal objects, over and above those achieved by the inventions of the abovementioned Heinrich patents, to provide a sealing unit capable of trouble-free operation over comparatively long periods of time notwithstanding its use under the unfavorable conditions obtaining in typical process industries. Where, as in many such situations, the sealing unit must be capable of yielding in response to endwise movement of a shaft, the constructionof the sealing unit must be such as to permit it to stand up under repeated tiexing without cracking, softening or becoming more vulnerable to chemical attack. The provision of a sealing unit characterized by an unusually long life under dificult conditions,` environmental and otherwise, is one of the major objects of the invention.

The invention further has for one of its objects to proide a sealing unit made of chemically resistant material that will not deteriorate or, if it does tend to deteriorate, that will not deteriorate rapidly, particularly at superatmospheric temperatures. In Ithe accomplishment of this object, the invention contemplates the use of corrosionresistant metal in most or all of the exposed portions of the sealing Where expedient, it also contemplates the use therewith of internal supporting means, usually but not necessarily of other metallurgical or chemical composition, that tend to reinforce, enhance or otherwise improve the physical properties of such corrosion-resistant metal las, for example, by forestaliing or delaying the onse-t of fatigue, softening and other kinds of deterioration.

As a specific object, the invention further contemplates enhancement of the action of the annular spring or springs characterizing a typical sealing unit of `the sort disclosed in the above-mentioned Heinrich patents. Sealing units of this kind lend themselves to good advantage to the accomplishment ofthe aims of the invention, especially with respect to fthe features above brought out. It is probabile, however, that in generaily similar sealing units of different design fthe same or similar features may be used to advantage.

Other objects, advantages and features of the invention will Ibe apparent from the description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE l is `a central vertical section through Ia pump provided with ra seal-ing funit Within the purview of the invention, the pump being shown on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 2 .is a `combined elevation `and section on a rger scale through the sealing unit appearing Iin FIG- FIGURE 3 is fan exploded view showing in section the parts that go to make up the sealing unit of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is fa central vertical `section through the top portion of la ,mixer the shaft of which is provided with a sealing unit within the purview of the invention, the mixer being shown on a reduced scale.

FIGURE 5 is a section on a larger scale through the sealing unit appearing in FIGURE 4.

FIGURES 6 and 7 lare exploded views yshowing in secgciE the parts that go to make up the sealing unit in FIG- The centrifugal pump illustrated in FIGURE l has a housing 1 of conventional shape surrounding an impeller 2 mounted in the usual way on the outboard end of pump shaft 3. Inwardly thereof; ie., fto the left as seen in -FIG- URE 1, pump shat 3 supports .a sealing unit that rides land tends to float on the surface of the shaft. The sealing unit is disposed Ibetween and to some extent compressed by bushing 5 land =a removable end plate 6 provided with Ia central opening 7 accommodating the motorcoupled end of the pump shaft. Inner face 8 of bushing 5 and inner face 9 of end plate 5 are finished with a high degree of accuracy, as are the portions of the sealing unit that confront them. Respectively, faces 8 'and 9 bear against the seaiing faces of sealing rings 11 Vand 12 of sealing unit 4.1.

As indicated at the top of FIGURE 2, sealingrings 11 and 12 are provided respectively with sealing surfaces 13 and 14 for engagement with faces 8 and 9. Peripheral surfaces 15 and 16 of sealing rings 11 and 12 accommodate and hold in place the contiguous metal portions of the sealing unit; accordingly, they may, if desired, be referred to as holding faces. Designated 15 in FIG- URE 2, the holding face on sealing ring 11 is tapered at an angle of 5 to the longitudinal axis A-A of the sealing unit, less in any event than about 71/2 similarly, hoding face 16 of sealing ring 12 is tapered lat an angle of 5 in the opposite direction. In the preferred forms ofthe invention, sealing rings 11 and 12 are of ycompressed comminuted carbon.

rMounted on holding faces '16 and 17, respectively, are two annular metal supporting elements 17 and SiS-of generallychannel-shaped construction. VPreferably these are formed as shown, described and claimed in Heinrich application Serial No. 844,959, filed October 7, 1959 (now Patent 3,028,163). Resistance-welded in duid-tight fashion to annular supporting elements 17 and i8, respectively, are two annular metal leaf springs 19 and 20. 'The latter overlap each other as shown in FIGURE 2.' Where they overlap, they are welded together by resistance welding to form a duid-tight joint21. Springs 19 and 20 appear to best advantage in FIGURE 3, wherein they occur near the median plane of the figure.

Referring tozthe showing toward the right inthe same Yiigure of annularsupporting element i7, it will be noted that inner side wall 34 defines an acute angle and that outer side wall'36 defines an obtuse angle with channel base 35. The latter slants sharplyrwith respect to the two side walls. It shouldV further be noted that inner side wall 34 does not parallel aXis A-A, as does outer side wall 36, but insteadV departs from parallelism with axisV A-i-Aby an angle corresponding to the angle of taper 'of holding face 150i sealing ring 1i. Annular supporting element 18shown toward the left in FIGURE V3, is similarly formed with a slightly-inclined inner side wall 37, a slanted base 33, and an outer side wall 39 that parallels 'the centralY axis A-A ofthe sealingunit. Returning now to spring 19, it'will be observed that this spring, Vlike certain of thosev disclosed in Heinrich ,Patentr2,94l,825, Vis characterized by a lip-like flange 41 ron its outer periphery, by an intermediate annular por-V tion 42 provided with a bowed portion 43 of short radius Yof curvature, and by a Vrnountingfrlange 44 on its inner periphery, the latter extendingY toward the median plane ofthe sealing unit.V Spring 2t? is similarly constructed i with a lip-like'v iiange 4S on its outer periphery, an in-V Reference'toy FIGURE 2`wil1 show Ythat a( reinforcing- Vmeinberr22 of the nature of 'a follower is disposed yafter the'fashion of a'lining on the inside face of spring 19 and that a similarreiniorcing member 23 is similarly vdisposed on the inside face of Spring 2G. As appears from vFIGURE 3, the former is characterized,-among other things, by an outwardly directed lip-likeiiiange Sti, an annular portion 51 including a bowed portion SZ, and

an inwardly directed lip-like iiange 53; theilatter, byr'anV outwardly directed liplikefiange 54, `an annular portion 55, including .a bowed` portion 56, andan inwardly directed lip-like flange 57. `When ,supportingv element 17 is welded to spring`19,1iplike viiange Sil of reinforcing member 22 isclamped in position between them, after,

which itrspermanently blocked againstV disengagement and held in touching' vcontact with the insidefface of spring 19. VLip-like flange 54 is similarly locked in placerrwithin spring 20. i

Y Reinforcing members 22 andZS, although introduced -as inserts,V are preferably Vof spring1metal and may be described as seco'ndary'rsprings to distinguish them from primary'springs and 20'.V Theyjeiectively back up ,Y primary, springs 19 and 2Q, .as a result whereof the overallfspringV action is'inuchAlenlia'r'iced.Vr ihey permit of the use ofhigher pressures withoutidarnage tothe sealing unit, as bybuclrling."V Their use-in the form shown Y Vmaires it unnecessary toV attempt to weld them -to the primary springs orrto'the' supporting elements. By using 'Y VVthem, the 'yliielof the sealing unit is greatlyfextended,

especially at elevated temperatures.

action.

YThis is particularly true where the primary springs and other metal cornponents of the sealing unit fareY of` stainless steel, nickelchrornium alloys (Inconel) or other corrosion-resistant metals, many of which tend to soften when used for prolonged periods at superatmospheric temperatures.V

YBecause Inconel and similar alloys are at best relatively soft, itis advantageous to be ableto reinforce the primary springs, if of such an alloy, with secondary springs of a somewhat harder spring metal such as half-hard or three-quartersfhard stainless steel. If desired', however, primary springs 19 and 2i) may be fabricated instead from a commercial alloy of tantalum, titanium or zirconium l and similarly reinforced by stainless steel secondaryY springs.k inasmuch as the secondaryusprings are on the inside of the sealingrunit; i'.e., awayrfr'om the product being pumped, Vthe material of which the secondary Vsprings (corrosion, are capable of standing up well even inl the presence of allot aqueous solution of caustic soda. Thus:

the life of the sealing unit as a Ywhole is greatly extended,

Further by way of example of how metals of speciiically dierent metallurgical compositions may be combined kto extend the lifeV of the sealing unit, mention maybe made or the conjoint use of fully annealed (dead soft) or quarter-hard stainless steel in the primary springs and supporting elements andV of half-hard or three-quartershard stainless steel in the secondary springs. L Fully' an nealed and quarter-.hard stainless steels resist many cherniV cals without a great deal of diii'iculty but are subjectlto the criticism thatrtheirv softness detracts from the spring In such circumstances, if primary springs of fully annealed or quarter-hard stainless steel are .reinforced by secondary springs of a harder grade of stainless steel,

Ysuch as half-hard or three-quarters hard, the spring ac-Y steel infthey primary springs and supporting elements affords a Yfurther advantage because of thefrelative easeY with which suchA steels canbe'fabricated. This V.is par-V ticularly true as regards: sealing units of small` diameter;

In such sealing units, manufacturing diiilcultiesk are vpre-y sented by nickel-chromium alloys and alloys of `tantalurn,

titanium, zirconium nand the like. Thus the .useof vreinforcing vmembers-to line the interior surfaces ofthe primary v springslis of Vconsiderable advantage even in Y sealing units in which all parts other than thel sealing rings themselves vare of stainless steel. n

`FIGURE 4 -is `a section'through the upperlportionofV-,a

mixer provided with la shaft and blades for stirring. In

the `form shown, mixer 6h isiprovided'witha topgwalll. Ysurmounted by `a circular mounting `iiangefz to .which is l .attached `a separable collar 63.. `Bolted tothe upper` end of collar 63 is amanti-friction bear-ing lassemblykof the tapered roller type. Bearing assembly 64- surrounds a vertical shaft v65 carrying Vthe blades'lnot shown) at its'lower endand at lits uppere'nd'an"electricl motor 66.

Elsewhere on shaft 65, ordinarily'at Iabout the level of mounting ilange I62, is anradjustable abutment 67; Be-Y rtween` labutment, `67 and yannular vplate 68, Ywhich* is clampedfin place betweencollar and bearing assembly 64,;is yansealing unit v@off-the Itype shown indettailxniny FiGUREl-S'.Y Faces 70 and 71of 'abutment 61 andY an 'titular-:plate 68, respectively, are iinished Vwith VVafhigh degree of `accuracy so that 'they may cooperate Vwitlrthose.1 i portions Aof sealing unit 69 that bear against |them,-which;

likewiseare highlyV finished. Lilie sealing'unit in the centrifugal pump of EiGURE lfsealinggrideslon v l l l l l i d the surface of the shaft, being compressed somewhat between abutment 67 and annular plate 68.

Respectively, FIGURES 5 and 6 show the assembled sealing unit in relation to shaft 65 and .the incompletely assembled sealing yumt as it would appear .in `exploded form. vIt will be noted that there are two sealing rings 73 and 74, one on each side of the ltwo opposite sides of the sealing unit; two primary springs 75 and 76, which, when welded together, form a huid-tight joint 77 (FIG- URE 5); and two secondary springs '78 and 79. Sealing ring 73 is characterized by 'a sealing face 81, a cylindrical face `82, a holding face 83, and a ilat 1face 84 that adjoins primary spring 75. Similarly, sealing ring 74 4is characterized by a sealing face 85, Ia cylindrical face 86, a holding face 87, and a hat face 88 that adjoins primary spring 76. Although not so represented :in FIGURES 5 and 6, holding faces 83 and y87 on sealing rings 73 and 74, respectively, make `an tangle of about 5, less in any event than about 7%. with the central axis B-B of the sealing unit.

Referring now to yFIGURE 7, which shows the primary and secondary springs as they appear when first fabricated, it will be noted that primary spring 75 has a tapered lip-like supporting flange 90 on the inner periphery of an annular portion at 91 incorporating a bowed portion 92 of short radius of curvature. On its outer periphery, primary spring 75 has a mounting flange 93 Ithat parallels the central axis B-B of the sealing unit. In like fashion, primary spring 76 is provided with a tapered lip-like supporting flange 94 on the inner periphery of an annular portion 95 incorporating `a bowed portion 96 of short radius of curvature. On its outside periphery, primary spring 76 has a mounting flange 97 which is of the same diameter :as `and resembles mounting ange 93 n primary spring 75 in the sense that it is adapted to receive the secondary spring to be inserted within it. Liplike supporting fianges 9B and 94 are tapered at an angle of the same order of magnitude as that characterizing holding faces 83 `and 87 on sealing rings 73 and 74, respectively.

Secondary springs 78 and 79 resemble secondary springs of the previously-described embodiment of the invention in that they `are characterized by tapered inner flanges 101 and 182, .intermediate portions 103 and 104 with bowed portions 105 and 106, and outer anges 107 and 108 that parallel axis B-B.

`In the lassembly of the sealing unit, secondary spring 78 is inserted `inside primary spring 75. In like manner, Secondary spring 79 is inserted inside primary spring 76. With secondary spring 79 held rmly in place, primary Spring 76 lis then subjected to a pressing operation providing in mounting ange 97 the shallow offset 116 appearing in FIGURE 6. In this way, secondary spring 79 is locked in place in primary spring 76. Oset portion 110 4is preferably of a diameter such as to permit it -to be received snugly within mounting flange 93 on primary spring 75. The huid-.tight joint 77 seen in FIG- URE is produced oy welding or Iotherwise bonding the two primary springs together, las lby Ja metallic bond. Sealing rings 73 and 74 are then urged into place on liplike supporting anges 90 and 94, respectively.

As in the case of the previously described embodiment of the invention, primary springs 75 and 76 may be of metal of a given metallurgical composition and secondary spri-ngs 78 and 79 of metal of -a dilferent metallurgical composition. Thus, primary springs 75 and 76 may, if desired, be of Inconel, tantalum, titanium, zirconium or some similar corrosion-resistant alloy and secondary springs 78 and 79 may be of stainless steel. if desired, primary springs 75 and 76 may be of relatively soft stainless steel in order to take advantage of the fact that it may be worked without undue diculty while secondary springs 7'8and 79, which require less drastic Working, may be of a harder grade of stainless steel. In any event, thefadditional spring action provided by the secyondary springs ampliiies the spring action inherent in the primary springs land, where the latter' spring action is not in and of itself as ygreat las may be desired, can complement it to a degree suiiicient to make the sealing unit as a whole highly useful in an environment in which it is subjected to the action of corrosive agents such as acids, alkalies, detergents `and the like.

It is evident that in heavy-duty sealing units of the types shown and described important advantages are made possible by this combination of a corrosion-resistant primary spring that is relatively easily fabricated with a secondary spring that is firm enough to give the desired over-all spring action, even -though the metallurgical composition of the secondary spring may not be such as to permit it, in .and of itself, to stand up for long periods of time in the presence of acids, alkalies or .other chemicals. The fact that the secondary springs are -on the inside surfaces of the sealing unit; -i.e., out of contact with the material being handled, makes it unnecessary that the material of the secondary spring be highly resistant to corrosion so long as the material of the primary spring is itself suitably resist-ant to chemical attack, erosion, fatigue, etc. Sealing tested under heavy-duty conditions over long periods of time have given surprisingly ygood results lfrom the standpoint of resistance to degeneration of these [and other kinds to which such a sealring unit is normally regarded as susceptible.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by summarization in appended claims, all features of patentable novelty residing in the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A sealing unit for use with shafts, shaft-mounted bearing races and the like comprising two primary leaf springs in proximate relation to each other each of which is of annular shape, characterized by inside and outside faces, and provided with a bowed portion between its inner and outer peripheries; two secondary leaf springs of the nature of spring followers, one for each of said primary springs, each of which is of annular shape and each of which has a bowed portion between its inner and outer peripheries, said secondary springs lining the inside faces of said primary springs, a mounting ange on each of said primary springs along one of its peripheries, said mounting flanges engaging each other; and, supported from said primary springs, two oppositely directed sealing rings adapted to contact with surfaces to be sealed.

2. A sealing unit according to claim 1 in which the secondary springs line the proximate faces of the primary springs.

3. A sealing unit according to claim 1 in which the secondary springs line the non-proximate faces of the primary springs.

4.7A sealing unit for use with shafts, shaft-mounted bearing races and the like comprising two primary leaf springs in proximate relation to each other each of which is of annular shape, characterized by inside and outside faces, and provided with a bowed portion between its inner and outer peripheries; two secondary leaf springs of the nature of spring followers, one for each of said primary springs, each of which is of annular shape and each of which has a bowed portion between its inner and outer peripheries, said secondary springs lining the inside faces of said primary springs; a mounting ange on each of said springs along one of its peripheries, said mounting flanges engaging each other; supporting means on each of said springs along the other of its two peripheries; and, supported therefrom, sealing rings provided with oppositely directed surfaces adapted to contact the surfaces to be sealed.

` 5. A sealing unit according to claim 4 in which the secondary springs are held in place by the primary springs.

6. A sealing unit for use with shafts, shaft-mounted bearing races and the like comprising two oppositely directed sealing rings each of which has a dat sealing surface; corrosion-resistant metal means supporting the sealing rings in'spaced relation to each other with their sealing surfaces in contact with the surfaces to be sealed;

vtwo juxtaposed primary leaf springs of annular shape fc'arrying the supporting means, said primary springs being j ofcorrosion-resistant metal; two secondary leaf springs of the nature of inserts lining the inside faces of the primarysprings, said/secondary springs being of annular shape, and corrosion-resistant metal means connecting the primary springs. Y

7. A sealing unit according to clainr6 in'which the corrosion-resistant metal isa tantalurn alloy.

8. A sealing -unit according to `claim 6in which the corrosion-resistant metalis titanium alloy. Y l 1 9.*A sealing unit according to claim 6 in which the corrosion-resistant metal is a zirconium alloy. Y

10. lA sealing unit for use with shafts, shaft-mounted bearing races andthe like comprising twoV oppositely directedrsealing rings; two channel-shaped annuli of cor- Vrosionresistant metal supporting Vthe sealing rings with their sealing surfaces in ContactY witn the surfaces to be O l c sealed; two spaced but interconnected primary leaf springs `V of annular shape each of .which supports one of lthe two mary springs and the channel-shaped elements. Y Y v References Cited'in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES*V PATENTS Y 2,202,908 Y HubbardfnV June k4, 1940 2,216,107 "Betzold Oct. 1, 1940 2,251,020 Murphy July. 29,. 1941 2,941,825

Heinrich JuneY 21,1960 

1. A SEALING UNIT FOR USE WITH SHAFTS, SHAFT-MOUNTED BEARING RACES AND THE LIKE COMPRISING TWO PRIMARY LEAF SPRINGS IN PROXIMATE RELATION TO EACH OTHER EACH OF WHICH IS OF ANNULAR SHAPE, CHARACTERIZED BY INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FACES, AND PROVIDED WITH A BOWED PORTION BETWEEN ITS INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERIES; TWO SECONDARY LEAF SPRINGS OF THE NATURE OF SPRING FOLLOWERS, ONE FOR EACH OF SAID PRIMARY SPRINGS, EACH OF WHICH IS OF ANNULAR SHAPE AND EACH OF WHICH HAS A BOWED PORTION BETWEEN ITS INNER AND OUTER PERIPHERIES, SAID SECONDARY SPRINGS LINING THE INSIDE FACES OF SAID PRIMARY SPRINGS, A MOUNTING FLANGE ON EACH OF SAID PRIMARY SPRINGS ALONG ONE OF ITS PERIPHERIES, SAID MOUNTING FLANGES ENGAGING EACH OTHER; AND, SUPPORTED FROM SAID PRIMARY SPRINGS, TWO OPPOSITELY DIRECTED SEALING RINGS ADAPTED TO CONTACT WITH SURFACES TO BE SEALED. 